Two years ago, I was at a loss for reading material. I had no clue what I wanted so like any good reader I started trolling all my favorites sites (author pages, blogs, etc.) and along the way I remembered that I wanted to look at the Romantic Times website.
Well thank my lucky stars I did! My search was not in vain, because I stumbled upon one of the best erotic historical paranormal romance series I have ever read. What I love about Elizabeth Amber’s books is that she throws a dash of history and mythology beautifully blended in a fabulous love story so hot that every book is a page-turner.
I’m not the only one singing her praises as proof her recent nods for DANE. DANE is an award finalist for RomCom’s 2011 Reader’s Crown Award, a current finalist for The Golden Quill awards (Desert Rose RWA), WisRWA Write Touch Reader’s award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and RT Book Reviews Top Pick and recipient of the RT Award for Best Erotic Fantasy Romance of 2010.
Whew! I have no doubts that BASTIAN will surpass DANE!
Now, Two years later and I find myself equally lucky and truly blessed that Elizabeth granted me an interview and I am very excited. Let’s get started!
Hi Liz, how are you doing today? Congrats, by the way on all your nods!
All is well here, Lizzie. Thank you for you kind mention of the DANE nods. I really appreciate them, and am delighted that you are interviewing me for Bttrfliesz Are Free. Thank you for the lovely review of BASTIAN yesterday, too!
For the readers who are not familiar with your work can you give us your background?Sure. I’m a museum junkie with an intense interest in history and archeology. That fuels my writing in The Lords of Satyr, erotic historical paranormals romances for Kensington Aphrodisia set in 1800s Italy.
How about a quick BASTIAN blurb, so we know what it’s about?
Infamous for his archaeological finds in the Roman Forum and more highly sexed than most of his kind, Bastian is admired and envied. Yet he is tortured by visions. Silvia has ties to the Vestal Virgins and seeks to use him to locate a powerful artifact. But she never expected or wanted to love him. For she cannot have him—Bastian belongs to her dearest friend.
Why did you focus on Greek and Roman mythology?
When I was an art history major at university, I became passionate about Greco-Roman artifacts. When I began writing, I built on that mythology and updated it to the 19th century.
Here is a question I have been dying to ask, why the Satyr?
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| Nymphs Satyr, William Adolphe Bouguereau |
I love that you’re curious about this! The blame lies with my studies of ancient urns, frescoes, and amphorae decorated with satyrs (the carnal followers of the Roman god of wine, Bacchus) celebrating the annual grape harvest. And my love of romance novels, which I began reading at age thirteen (Gone with the Wind, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre).
When you created the Satyr series, did you have any idea how successful it would become?
I tried not to look beyond the writing I was doing. I didn’t want to think about it selling because I didn’t want to carry the burden of, “How will my writing be judged by an editor/my mom/readers/friends?” Once I got the idea of writing about a secret clan of satyrs in 19th century Italy, it wouldn’t leave my head. I kept taking notes, and soon I was writing a novel. I went to an RWA conference and found out that Kensington was buying erotic/hot romance, so I submitted. Six months later, I got a call with an offer for three books. That was a “pinch-me-I-don’t-believe-it moment!”
You now have now have six books in the Lord of Satyrs stories, are there plans for more in the works?
Sevin is in the works now. An astute businessman, he is the founder and owner of the Salon di Passione, a covert establishment in which ElseWorld creatures who dwell in 1880s Rome can congregate to explore their passionate needs.
I love that you are fearless in your writing. You touch upon subjects that most considered taboo. At any time did you think, of censoring yourself?
We all have some inner censor, but if I get an idea, I run with it.
What gave you the idea to write about a hermaphrodite heroine in RAINE?
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| Hermaphroditos Asleep, 3rd - 1st C. - Louvre, Paris |
On a trip to Europe, I came across two reclining statues of female hermaphrodites. One was in the art collection of a wealthy family, and the other in the Louvre. I did some reading afterward, and empathized with how hermaphrodites lived in the 1800s. The hermaphrodite heroine in Raine is raised as the son who will inherit the family fortune. If she admits the truth of her feelings—that she wants to live as a woman--her family will lose everything. I loved Raine as a hero because he loves her completely and unconditionally.
The lords are all affected by the Calling in which they turn into fantastical half man/beast with double phallus’, why did you choose to depict your heroes this way?
I wanted to differentiate them from other sexy guys in some way that indicated their extreme physical carnality. The satyr are after all the carnal followers of the Roman god of wine in mythology. In the novels, their bodies change for one copulation with a dual-phallus, whereupon commences a nightlong celebration of sensuality and the wine from their family’s grapes. From the prologue: “Upon the coming of each new month, their blood beckons them to heed the full moon’s call to mate. To deny this carnal call is to perish. To heed it, bliss.”
If I had to pick one brother I loved most, it would be impossible. Which of the brothers is your favorite and why?
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| 19th C. Paris Urns-Satyrs |
My favorite book and hero is always the current one, so that would be BASTIAN. I love that he has flaws that impact his nature and his livelihood. He’s a reformed drunkard, yet ancient blood of the Roman god of wine runs in his veins. And his debilitating color-blindness must be kept secret lest it limit his career in archaeology. I love that he’s a big, strapping alpha male, who doesn’t think himself capable of love, until he gets to know Silvia in all her guises.
Your series takes place in the past could you foresee moving your characters in a contemporary setting?
A reader suggested this to me not long ago, and it was a new idea for me. I think it would be fun. I love contemporary/paranormal/fantasy/romance. What do you think about the idea, Lizzie? *This reader would love to see it because it poses new challenges in the modern era!*
Do you have any plans for writing in other categories within the romance genre? Do you plan on delving into other mythical cultures?
I’ve been reading steampunk and YA dystopia, so some of that may come into play in my future romance writing. I’d like to create my own world mythology, loosely based on an amalgam of several existing mythologies.
I stumbled upon a lovely German version of one of your books, how many countries have you been published in recently?
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| Die Braut des Satyrs |
All the novels have been or will be published in German editions. The series has found lots of fans in Australia, Great Britain, and other English-speaking countries. It’s always so interesting to see the covers of foreign editions. I love the German ones with their tats!
What’s your writing process, are you a plotter, panster or somewhere in between?
I’m an in-betweener. I’m trying to be more of a plotter, since it’s a more efficient way to work though.
Can you divulge a secret that no one knows?
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| Ruins Vesta's Temple |
In BASTIAN, I write about a heroine named Silvia, who is engages in the serial theft of the bodies of the dying, taking them as hosts so that she can exist through the centuries. The idea for this came from the death of one of my girlfriends in a car accident in high school. I remember how desperately I wanted to help her, but I couldn’t prevent her ultimate death. However, Silvia finds a unique way to comfort the dying. In exchange for the use of each body, she grants her host’s dying wish. She offers to complete that which the host has left undone in life.
Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Chocolate and books. The two just go together so nicely!
Growing up, who inspired you?
My mom is my hero. She was my champion and made my sister and me feel like we were worthy, interesting, smart people that she actually liked as well as loved. She went back to college after having children, and later returned to school for a law degree. My uncle is another of my heroes. He is career military, and has a great love for the people of this nation and a positive outlook on the nation’s future.
Can you give your readers any advice on writing and how to get published?
Try to start with a great plot hook. Something that can be expressed in a sentence or two, and that will make other authors want to kill you because the idea is that good! Reading voraciously and writing regularly are important too.
Anything else you want us to know?
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| Urn-Yusupov Palace, St. Petersberg, Russia |
I should note that there are two Satyr clans in my novels. They're related by ancient blood, but do not cross paths in the books, so each clans' books are very separate. The two clans are:
Tuscany 1820s: Nicholas, Raine, Lyon, Dominic
Rome 1880s: Dane, Bastian (May), Sevin (2012), Lucien
What’s next up for you? Any book signings or conventions?
I’ll be at two conferences and would love to meet readers!
Moonlight and Magnolias (Sept/Oct 2011)
Lora Leigh’s Readers Appreciation Weekend (October 2011)
Where can we find you?
Here are a few meeting places to get news and contest info about the Lords of Satyr and me:
E-newsletter (monthly)
Thank you for your gracious hospitality Lizzie! I’m so glad you enjoyed Bastian, The Lords of Satyr! I hope your readers do as well.
